Ball-bearing.



No.644.608. Patented Mar. 6, |900.

J. KELLER.

BALL BEARING.

{Appiication tiled Feb. 7, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES IEEICE.

PATENT KELLER TOOL COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.'

BALL-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters VPatent N o. 644,608, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed February 7, 1899. Serial No. 704,780. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J ULIUS KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Bearings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specication and accompanying drawings.

This invention consists of a retaining-ring for ball-bearings, and is I particularly applicable to bearings wherein one member is cylindrical, like a shaft, and also where there are a plurality of independent sets of balls upon the same shaft-situated in such proximity that ordinary means for re taining the balls cannot be employed.

The invention further consists in the details of construction hereinafter fully described and specifically elaime Figure l represents an end elevation of a ball-bearing embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line a: Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation illustrating the manner of inserting the rev Shaft.

cylindrical bearings, as shown,

that the location of the balls interiorly is onlyl taining-ring and before being applied to,'the

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent side elevations of ball-bearing rings. Fig. 7 represents a section of the retaining-ring. Fig.I 8 is a perspective view of the-same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts iii the figures.

The retaining-ring forming the subject -of this invention Ais especially adaptedV for use in connection with ball-bearings in which the member supported' by the balls is cylindrical, and to illustrate thesame I haveshowu a bearing in which the balls arel situated interiorly andsupport a shaftpassing therethrough. It will be understood, of course, that my invention is applicable to other than and, further,

an embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates thebearing, and -B the shaft. Said bearingA is provided interiorly with the usual race C, containing the balls D, supporting said shaft B. The race C consists of and simply retains the ballsl against lateral movement in one direction or away from the an annular chan: f nel ork groove to receive one side of the ballh shaft and against longitudinal movement in either direction. The retaining-ring E is resilient and separated at one sideto permit its compression or expansion -and isprovided with a plurality o f openings F to receive portions of the balls-that is to say, the exposed sides thereof. The diameters of the openings F are less than the diameters of the balls,

and said openings are so disposed relative to the diameter-of the ring and theballs D that when the ringis in place the said balls register with the openings and extend through the same, so as to project a little distance on `the other side thereof, it being noted that owing t0 the relative, dimensions of the parts the balls can tu rn freely within the openings without binding. The retaining-ring E serves simply to prevent the balls from moving away from or out of the channel or groove of the race C, the diameter'of the ring being greater or less than the distance between the exposed cord ingly as said balls are situated interiorly or exteriorly relative thereto. The openings in the ring permit the exposed ,sidev of the balls to' project therethrough to be engaged by the bearing, while the diameter of the balls being greater than that of the openings the balls are held within the race. rIlhe bearing is therefore complete in itself-that is to say, the journal or shaft canbe removed without disturbing any part thereof, the balls being incapable of movement, except around the race, unless the retaining-ring isremoved. In Fig. l the parts are shown in the position they assume in operation.

In Fig. 3 the ring is shown as it is being applied-that is to say, after the balls are placed in the race and one end portion of the ring has been applied to the balls, while the other end is bent inwardly and ready to be sprung outwardly to cause the balls to seek their openings.

It is understood, of course, that the ends of the ring abut and can be connected after being applied by solder or otherwise, or they maybe separated, relying uponl the resiliency of the ring to hold it in position.

ball-bearings are shown as situated close to each other and in such proximity as to pre- -In Fig. 2 a plurality of separate sets ofsides of balls on opposite sides of the race, acl IOO Y with a plurality vent the employment of ordinary ball-retainers. The retaining-rings E are applied thereto, it being noted that said rings do not interfere with the other balls or occupy a wider space than the balls themselves, so that the close arrangement of a plurality of sets of ball-bearings is possible in connection with this retaining-ring.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the ball-race C is shown as a separate ring inclosed by the outer shell C', said parts being shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 6, however, the race and shell G are made in one piece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A ball-bearing, comprising a bearing portion provided with a race, a plurality of balls situated therein, the walls of said race holding the balls against longitudinal movement in opposite directions relative to said bearing portion,and a retaining-ring provided of openings through which the balls project, the diameter of said openings being less than that of said balls.

2. A ball-bearing, comprising a bearing portion provided with a race, a plurality of balls situated therein, the walls of said race holding the balls against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and a divided retaining-ring provided with a plurality of openings through which the balls project, the 'diameter of said openings being less than that of said balls.

3. A ballbearing, portion provided with balls situated therein, said race holding the balls against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and a resilient retaining-ring provided with a plurality of openings through which the balls project, the diameter of said comprising a bearing openings being less than that of said balls.

comprising a bearing portion provided with a race, a plurality of balls situated therein, said race holding the balls against longitudinal movement relative thereto, and a divided resilient retainingring provided with a plurality of openings through which the balls project, the diameter of said openings being less than that of said balls.

4. A ballbearing,`

J ULIUS. KELLER.

\Vitnesses:

JoHN A. VVIEDERSHEIM, WM. C. WIEDERSHEIM.

a race, a plurality of 

